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Jan
Ceulemans
(Belgium)
Jan
Ceulemans, born in Lierse, is regarded as one of the
best players in Europe of his generation. Having
started with his local club, he moved to Club Bruges
in 1978 where he stayed for thirteen years until he
retired. In the meantime he won three league
championships and was voted Belgian Player of the Year
three times as well.
He made his debut for
the national team in 1977 and three years later he was
impressive when Belgium came runners-up to West
Germany in the European Championship. Ceulemans was a
workhorse and his tireless running in midfield
combined with his long legs made him able to cover
lots of ground. He could run fast with the ball at his
feet and was good in the air as well. He was very
skillful despite being tall (6’3”/191cm) and
scored many goals after beating a man or two.
Belgium reached the
second phase in the World Cup of 1982 and Ceulemans is
remembered by many for running 80 yards with the ball
before passing to a teammate who scored against
Hungary in the first round. However, it was not until
four years later in Mexico that Jan really shone on
soccer’s greatest stage. He captained Belgium to the
semifinals where Maradona and Argentina proved to be
too strong. Ceulemans had a great tournament and
scored three goals. His diving header in the
quarterfinal against Spain was a beauty.
At 33, he appeared in
his third and last World Cup in Italy in 1990. Neither
Jan or the Belgian team reached the level of 1986, but
their exit could have been easier to deal with than
David Platt’s 119th minute extra-time winner in the
second round match against England. Ceulemans said
farewell to the national team and retired from
professional soccer the following year having won a
Belgian record of 96 caps.
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